Sleeve mounting

ABSTRACT

A sleeve has a radially movable abutment resiliently mounted thereon for retaining the sleeve in an aperture by engaging one side of the wall adjacent the aperture. A release member projects from the abutment at a location adjacent the sleeve forwardly of the abutment to enable the abutment to be released from the wall from the other side thereof.

United States Patent Inventor Stephen James Harper Stoke, England Jan.27, 1970 Jan. 4, 1972 Rootes Motors Limited London, England Feb. 7, 1969Great Britain 6,821/69 Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority SLEEVEMOUNTING 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

us. 01 74/501 R, 174/65 0, 85/5 R, 85/80, 248/27, 248/56,

285/162, 285/D1G. 22, 287/20 R Int. Cl Fl6c 1/10 Field 61 Search 74/501P, 501; 287/20 R; 85/80, 81, 5; 174/153 G, 65 0;

16/108; 285/162, DIG. 22; 248/56, 27 x [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 562,491 6/1896 Schoup 35/5 R 2,162,359 6/1939 Rhinevault287/D1G. 9 2,405,400 8/1946 Butterfield 85/5 R 3,142,187 7/1964 Kane74/528 3,220,078 1 1/1965 Preziosi 85/5 R 3,366,405 1/1968 Sevrence....74/501 X 3,390,589 7/1968 Tschanz 74/501 3,514,129 5/1970 Holdren285/162 Primary Examiner-William F. ODea Assistant ExaminerP. D.Ferguson Attorney-Mawhinney & Mawhinney ABSTRACT: A sleeve has aradially movable abutment resiliently mounted thereon for retaining thesleeve in an aperture by engaging one side of the wall adjacent theaperture. A release member projects from the abutment at a locationadjacent the sleeve forwardly of the abutment to enable the abutment tobe released from the wall from the other side thereof.

PATENTEDJAN 419 2 3631-738 SHEET 1 [IF 2 SLEEVE MOUNTING The inventionrelates to a sleeve which is mountable in an aperture in a wall.

The invention provides a sleeve having a radially movable abutmentmounted thereon for retaining the sleeve in an aperture in a wall byengagement with one side of the wall, characterized in that an abutmentrelease member is provided which projects from the abutment at alocation adjacent the sleeve forwardly of the abutment along the sleeveso 'as to be operable from the opposite side of the wall to the sidewhich the abutment engages to release the abutment therefrom.

The abutment may have a resilient mounting on the sleeve which urges theabutment to a position for engaging one side of the wall.

The abutment may be formed on a resilient arm joined at one end to oneend of the sleeve and extending axially along the sleeve, the abutmentsbeing formed part way along the arm on the side thereof remote from thesleeve and facing away from said one end and the part of the arm betweenthe abutment and the other end of the arm forming said abutment releasemember.

Two abutments may be provided on the sleeve at diametrically opposedlocations each having an abutment release member.

The abutment release member may engage a cam surface around the innerperiphery of a ring which encircles and is rotatably mounted on thesleeve, the surface being shaped to displace the member towards thesleeve by rotation of the ring in one direction and to allow the memberto move away from the sleeve by rotation of the ring in the oppositedirection whereby the abutment can be disengaged and engaged with thewall.

The ring may be mounted on the sleeve against axial movement away fromthe abutment, the face of the ring adjacent the abutment providing anabutment surface which limits the extent to which the sleeve can beinserted into the aperture.

The ring may have a leg projecting axially from its inner periphery at alocation away from the cam surface which leg projects towards theabutment member and is formed along an edge thereof adjacent the ringwith a recess to accommodate the release member in one rotationalposition of the ring to prevent movement of the abutment release membertowards the sleeve.

The ring and sleeve may have interengaging means for releasably holdingthe ring in one of two rotational positions in one of which the abutmentmember is engaged with the wall and in the other of which the abutmentmember is disengaged from the wall.

The interengaging means may comprise a detent mounted on the sleevewhich in one of said rotational positions engages in a recess formed inthe ring and in the other of the rotational positions engages a stopformed on the inner periphery of the ring.

Two detents may be provided at spaced locations on the sleeve each ofwhich is engageable either with a recess or a stop on the ring.

In any of the arrangements referred to above the sleeve may be attachedto or form an end part of a casing of a Bowden cable assembly.

The following is a description of one embodiment of the inventionreference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a part-sectional view of a sleeve mounted in an aperture inthe panel;

FIG. 2 is a view of the sleeve and panel shown in FIG. 1 with theholding means in a released condition;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the sleeve and the part of theholding means;

FIG. 6 is a similar view to FIG. 1 showing a modified arrangement;

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and with the sleeve lockedto the panel;

FIG. 8 is a similar view to FIG. 7 but with the sleeve-released from thepanel; and

FIG. 9 is a section in the line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings there is shown a panel 10 having anopening 11 through-which a sleeve 12 extends. The sleeve 12 is securedto one end of anouter casing l3"of a Bowden cable assembly having acable .14 which extends through the outer casing 13 and through thesleeve 12.

A flange 15 is formed part way along the sleeve 12 and a ring 16 has anannular recess formed around one inner corner in which a a peripheralpart 17 of the flange 15 is received whereby the ring 16 isrotatablysupported on the flange. The opposite end of the ring abutsthepanel 10 around the opening 1 1.

Two axially extending resilient arms 18 are mounted at diametricallyopposite locations on the end of the sleeve 12 remote from the outercasing 13. Each arm'l8 extends along the sleeve towards the flange 15and is formed with upstanding abutment faces 19 part way along itslength which engages the panel 10 adjacent the opening 11 on theopposite side to the face on the ring 16. The resilience of the arms 18is such that the arms 18 can be deflectedinwardly towards the sleeve topermit the sleeve to be inserted into the opening 11 and when theabutment faces 19 clear the opening the resilience of the arms causesthe arms to spring outwardly to bring the abutment faces into engagementwith the panel adjacent the openmg.

Limbs 18a of the arms 18 are encircled by the annular ring 16. As bestseen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the ring 16 is formed at spaced locations aroundits inner periphery with two cam surfaces or ramps 20. By rotation ofthe annular ring 16 the parts 18a of the arms can be brought intoengagement with the ramps 20 which by further rotation of the ringdeflect the parts 18a inwardly towards the sleeve thereby releasing theabutment faces 19 from the side of thepanel as shown in FIG. 2. Thesleeve can then be withdrawn from the opening 11 in the panel.

The ring 16 is also formed with two axially extending legs 21 located atdiametrically opposite positions on the ring. The inner surfaces of thelegs are curved asindicated at 22 for engaging the outer surface of thesleeve. 12. One outer corner of each leg 21 which is circumferentiallyspacedfrom a ramp 20 is recessed as indicated at 23 for receiving one ofthe parts '1 8a of a resilient arm by rotation of the annular ring 16 ina direction which moves the part 18a away from the ramp20 on the ring.When located in the recess 23, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings,movement of the arm 18 towards the sleeve is prevented so that thesleeve can be locked in the aperture 11.

The sleeve 12 is secured in the aperture 11 in the panel 10 in thefollowing manner. The end of the sleeve carrying the resilient arms 18is introduced into theaperture 11 with the ring 16 rotated to theposition indicated in FIG. 3 in which the arms 18 are held by the ramps20 at their inner positions. The sleeve is inserted until the abutmentface on the ring engages one side of the panel 10, to which position theabutment faces 19 on the arms 18 will have cleared the opening 11. Thering 16 is then rotated to release the arms from the ramps 20 so thatthe arms move outwardly to engage the abutment faces 19 with the otherside of the panel to prevent withdrawal of the sleeve 12. The ring 16 isthen rotated until the arms 18 are received in the recesses 23 in thelegs 21 to prevent inward movement of the arms 18. To withdraw thesleeve 12 from the opening the reverse procedure is adopted.

It will be appreciated that this arrangement provides a sleeve which canbe inserted in an opening in a panel from one side of the panel andsubsequently not in the opening by actuation of the ring 16 from saidone side of the panel and subsequently released by again actuating thering '16 from said one side of the panel.

Referring now to the modified arrangement shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 of thedrawings the ring 16 is axially longer and the recess 17 is deeper sothat a part of the ring 16 indicated at 25 overhangs the right-hand endof the flange 15 as shown in FIG.

5. The part of the sleeve 12 within the part 25 of the ringis formed atdiametrically spaced locations with resilient arms 26 each of whichextends around a part of the inner periphery of the part 25 of the ring.Each arm 26 is formed at the end remote from the sleeve 12 with a head27. The part 25 of the ring is formed at diametrically oppositelocations with openings 28 in which the heads 27 on the arms 26 engageto oppose rotation of the ring 16 with respect to the sleeve. In thisrotational position the arms 18 on the sleeve 12 are held in their outerpositions as shown in FIG. 1. To one side of each of the openings 28there is an arcuate groove 29 extending around part of the innerperiphery of the part 25 of the ring.

The end of the groove 29 and the adjacent edge of the opening 28 areformed to provide a smoothly curved ramp indicated at 30 between thegroove 29 and opening 28. Thus when a sufficient torque is applied tothe ring 16 in the direction of the arrow the heads 27 will ride up theramps 30 allowing the ring 16 to rotate and will then drop into thegroove 29. Eventually the heads 27 will come up against the ends of thegrooves 29 remote from the openings to prevent further rotation of thering 16. In this position of the ring 16 which is illustrated in FIG. 7the arms 18 on the sleeve 12 are located at their inner positions asindicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

It will be appreciated that this arrangement will prevent excesstransverse loads being applied to the arms 18.

To facilitate rotation of the ring 16 the outer periphery of the ringmay be formed with axially extending shallow grooves to enable the ringto be readily gripped.

I claim:

l. A sleeve for mounting in an aperture in a wall the sleeve having,

a. an abutment,

b. resilient means to mount the abutment on the sleeve for movementradially of the sleeve,

. an abutment face on the abutment facing axially along the sleeve inone direction for engaging one side of the wall,

. a release arm connected to the abutment and extending axially alongthe sleeve from the abutment in said one direction to project throughthe aperture in the wall,

. a ring encircling the sleeve,

means to mount the ring on the sleeve at a location spaced in said onedirection from the abutment both for rotation around the sleeve andagainst axial movement along the sleeve away from the abutment,

the release arm on the abutment engaging the inner periphery of thering,

h. cam means on the inner periphery of the ring to displace the arm andthereby the abutment radially inwardly to release the abutment face fromthe wall on rotation of the ring in one direction and to permit the armand thereby the abutment to move radially outwardly under the action ofsaid resilient means on rotation of the ring in the opposite direction,and

i. an abutment face on the ring facing opposite the abutment face on theabutment and spaced therefrom by a distance corresponding to thethickness of the wall for engaging the opposite side of the wall.

2. A sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resilient means formounting the abutment, the abutment and the release member are formedintegrally with one another.

3. A sleeve as claimed in claim 2 wherein said resilient means comprisesa resilient arm extending axially along the sleeve, the arm having oneend which engages in said ring to provide said release arm and anopposite end joined to the sleeve and part way along a side of the armremote from the sleeve a step is formed in the arm facing the ring toprovide said abutment face.

4. A sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein a further abutment is provideddiametrically opposite the first abutment on the sleeve, resilient meansare provided to mount the further abutment on the sleeve for radialmovement with respect to the sleeve, the further abutment has anabutment face facing the abutment face on the ring and a release arm isconnected to the further abutment which arrn extends axially alon thesleeve and engages the inner periphery of the ring, an the ring hasfurther cam means to displace the arm and thereby the further abutmentradially inwardly on rotation of the ring in said one direction and toallow the arm and abutment to move outwardly on rotation of the ring inthe opposite direction.

5. A sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ring has a leg projectingaxially from its inner periphery at a location away from the cam meanswhich leg projects towards the abutment member and is formed along anedge thereof adjacent the ring with a recess to accommodate the releasearm in one rotational position of the ring to prevent movement of therelease arm towards the sleeve.

6. A sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ring and sleeve haveinterengaging means for releasably holding the ring in one of tworotational positions in one of which the abutment is engaged with thewall and in the other of which the abutment is disengaged from the wall.

7. A sleeve as claimed in claim 6 wherein the interengaging meanscomprise a detent mounted on the sleeve which in one of said rotationalpositions engages in a recess formed in the ring and in the other of therotational positions engages a stop formed on the inner periphery of thering.

8. A sleeve as claimed in claim 7 wherein two detents are provided atspaced locations on the sleeve each of which is engageable either with arecess or a stop on the ring.

9. A sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sleeve is attached to orforms an end part of a casing of a Bowden cable assembly.

1. A sleeve for mounting in an aperture in a wall the sleeve having, a.an abutment, b. resilient means to mount the abutment on the sleeve formovement radially of the sleeve, c. an abutment face on the abutmentfacing axially along the sleeve in one direction for engaging one sideof the wall, d. a release arm connected to the abutment and extendingaxially along the sleeve from the abutment in said one direction toproject through the aperture in the wall, e. a ring encircling thesleeve, f. means to mount the ring on the sleeve at a location spaced insaid one direction from the abutment both for rotation around the sleeveand against axial movement along the sleeve away from the abutment, g.the release arm on the abutment engaging the inner periphery of thering, h. cam means on the inner periphery of the ring to displace thearm and thereby the abutment radially inwardly to release the abutmentface from the wall on rotation of the ring in one direction and topermit the arm and thereby the abutment to move radially outwardly underthe action of said resilient means on rotation of the ring in theopposite directioN, and i. an abutment face on the ring facing oppositethe abutment face on the abutment and spaced therefrom by a distancecorresponding to the thickness of the wall for engaging the oppositeside of the wall.
 2. A sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein theresilient means for mounting the abutment, the abutment and the releasemember are formed integrally with one another.
 3. A sleeve as claimed inclaim 2 wherein said resilient means comprises a resilient arm extendingaxially along the sleeve, the arm having one end which engages in saidring to provide said release arm and an opposite end joined to thesleeve and part way along a side of the arm remote from the sleeve astep is formed in the arm facing the ring to provide said abutment face.4. A sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein a further abutment is provideddiametrically opposite the first abutment on the sleeve, resilient meansare provided to mount the further abutment on the sleeve for radialmovement with respect to the sleeve, the further abutment has anabutment face facing the abutment face on the ring and a release arm isconnected to the further abutment which arm extends axially along thesleeve and engages the inner periphery of the ring, and the ring hasfurther cam means to displace the arm and thereby the further abutmentradially inwardly on rotation of the ring in said one direction and toallow the arm and abutment to move outwardly on rotation of the ring inthe opposite direction.
 5. A sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein thering has a leg projecting axially from its inner periphery at a locationaway from the cam means which leg projects towards the abutment memberand is formed along an edge thereof adjacent the ring with a recess toaccommodate the release arm in one rotational position of the ring toprevent movement of the release arm towards the sleeve.
 6. A sleeve asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the ring and sleeve have interengaging meansfor releasably holding the ring in one of two rotational positions inone of which the abutment is engaged with the wall and in the other ofwhich the abutment is disengaged from the wall.
 7. A sleeve as claimedin claim 6 wherein the interengaging means comprise a detent mounted onthe sleeve which in one of said rotational positions engages in a recessformed in the ring and in the other of the rotational positions engagesa stop formed on the inner periphery of the ring.
 8. A sleeve as claimedin claim 7 wherein two detents are provided at spaced locations on thesleeve each of which is engageable either with a recess or a stop on thering.
 9. A sleeve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sleeve is attachedto or forms an end part of a casing of a Bowden cable assembly.